Signed postcard photograph of the great tenor, who has penned boldly across the foot: "Mille remerciments / Enrico Caruso / 1910." On the verso, he has added in large letters "A Merry Xmas and Happy New Year." Together with a 1987 US 22-cent Enrico Caruso stamp and a clipped half-tone photograph. A few small chips to the upper edge of the postcard; overall fine. Postcard 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.5 x 13.5 cm).

Original program cover from a performance of Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, January 8, 1949, signed by conductor Malcolm Sargent and all four vocal soloists: Isobel Baillie, Kathleen Ferrier, Heddle Nash, and Norman Walker. Left edge rough; overall toning and one small tear; otherwise in very good condition. 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18.2 x 24.6 cm). Read More...

Original program cover from a performance of Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall on Good Friday, March 26, 1948, signed by conductor Malcolm Sargent and singers Kathleen Ferrier, Norman Walker, and Elsie Morison. The performance, with the London Symphony Orchestra, also features Ada Alsop and Peter Pears. In fine condition. 7.25 x 9.5 inches (18.5 x 24.2 cm). Read More...

An original issue of the Gentleman's Magazine, published in London in April 1751, containing a mention of a performance of Handel's Messiah on April 18: "Was performed in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital, the sacred oratorio Messiah, under the direction of G. F. Handel, Esq.; who himself play'd a voluntary on the organ; the amount of the sum for the tickets delivered out was above 600 l." (p. 185). The complete magazine is a treasure trove of historical tidbits, including news of the latest court cases and crimes, historical essays, an original song by Thomas Green, poetry, stock prices, international news, letters, and several excellent wood cuts, including a centaur (p. 153) and a lemur (p. 174). The notice on the Handel performance is preceded by the news that "A cowkeeper was fined 20l. for felling a distemper'd cow." Read More...

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AMQS of the first four bars from his holiday classic "I'll be Home for Christmas," penned and signed "Yours - Walter Kent" by its composer, on a British first day cover for Christmas 1979. Postmarked November 21, 1979. Envelope with an insert describing the Christmas story depicted on the stamps. One slight smudge at the left and slight mounting remnant at the lower right; overall fine. 8.5 x 4.75 inches (21.6 x 12 cm).

Autograph Christmas card from the German soprano to Danish-American tenor Lauritz Melchior. 1 p., n.d. [ca. 1960's-1970's]. On the inside of a printed card, Lehmann has penned (translated from the German): "My dear Lauritz— I can only hope that you are doing better than I am: the arthritis is bothering me a lot and I have to walk with two canes. But I mustn't complain; my whole life I've been free from pain, therefore it is twice as hard to endure it! Yours, Lotte." Very fine. 5 x 7.5 inches (13 x 18.7 cm). Read More...

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Signed Christmas card from the great Brazilian soprano, who has penned on a folding card with a design of a dove: "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, dear Myron with my love. Bidu." Addressed on the verso and postmarked December 10, 1975. Very fine. 9.25 x 8.75 inches (23.5 x 22 cm).

Postcard with New Year's greetings postmarked December 23, 1969 from the important composer and his wife to the widow of violinist Vasily Petrovich Shirinsky, a founding member of the Beethoven Quartet, to whose memory Shostakovich's Eleventh Quartet is dedicated. January 1970. Shostakovich writes: "Dear Nina Borisovna, We are sending you our warmest greetings for New Year 1970! Wishing you all the best. Yours, N. and D. Shostakovich." In fine condition. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (14 x 9 cm).

Autograph note from the important composer to the widow and children of violinist Vasily Petrovich Shirinsky, a founding member of the Beethoven Quartet, to whose memory Shostakovich's Eleventh Quartet is dedicated. Zhukovsky, December 29, 1970. Translated from the Russian: "Dear Nina Borisovna, Nina Vasilievna, Sasha, Please accept our warmest greetings for the New Year. Wishing you all the best. Yours, N. and D. Shostakovich." 14.5 x 20 cm. Together with the original envelope in the composer's hand, 15.2 x 9.8 cm. In very fine condition.

Amusing original press photograph showing a band, "Pa Sam Brown's Orchestra," playing in a farmyard for an audience of turkeys. Dated November 28, 1927. Chipping and wear to the edges and slight discoloration; otherwise in fine condition. 25.6 x 20.4 cm.

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Autograph letter on a Christmas card from the important actress to the novelist and playwright Edna Ferber, written at Christmas 1966. [N.d.], identified and dated on the front in Ferber's hand. 2 pp. Hepburn writes: "On this mad & overboard occasion—let me tell you again what a remarkable creature I think you are and how glad I am that I have been thrown in your way so that I can think about you & all your remarkable work and even as now I have the joy of telling you so—I am sure that you are as vague & insecure as anyone else but my God you don't seem it & you don't write it—And that has been a joy & a guiding star to many—Merry-Happy & much affection always—Kate." Greeting card with translucent image of a coach and horsemen within a paper frame. Some light wear and toning; overall fine. 6.25 x 5 inches (16 x 13 cm). Read More...

Original photograph of the great trumpeter, in the style of the distinctive "distorted" portrait photographs by Weegee. The original photograph showed Satchmo arriving at a Mexican airport; his recognizable smile has been stretched vertically as if to emphasize his legendary chops. Stamps and markings to the verso, with one stamp dated February 5, 1962. A few light edge nicks, else fine. 7.25 x 10 inches (18.7 x 25.8 cm). Read More...

Uncommon signed album from the tragic jazz great whose intimate playing style established him as a great talent until his drug related death in 1988. His 1955 album "Chet Baker Sings and Plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings" is signed on the back cover and dated Boston, 1964. Pacific Jazz Records PJ-1202. Slight edge wear and smudging to the signature, but overall in fine condition. Read More...

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Silver and Mother-of-pearl Belt Buckle,in the shape of a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, inscribed on reverse "B.B.", thought to have been given by King to fellow guitarist J. Geils, with whom he toured in the 1970s. Provenance: The Estate of J. Geils. Approx 5 x 1.8 inches, with an associated leather belt. Read More...

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Signed photograph of the legendary Rat Pack entertainer, who is shown in a three-quarter-length portrait, holding out both hands, and has boldly signed and inscribed in black marker at the left. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.3 cm).

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Original press photograph of the iconic American singer-songwriter in concert in Paris in 1978. Press caption on the verso, translated from French, reads: "Dylan, who has not been seen in the capital since 1966, has just come out with a new album, 'Street Legal,' from which he performed several songs, alongside his old hits." Dated July 5, 1977. Some wear to the edges; overall in fine condition. 7 x 9.5 inches (17.8 x 24 cm).

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A rare original program from the Newport Folk Festival of July 22-25, 1965, featuring the first electric performance by Bob Dylan, as well as performances by Joan Baez, Maybelle Carter, Peter Paul and Mary, Odetta, and many others. The program includes the full schedule of performances and workshops, biographies of the performers, and texts including a surreal short story titled "Off the Top of my Head" by Bob Dylan. 64 pp. Wear and stains, including a coffee mug ring, to the cover; cover detached; heavy rust marks from staple binding. Block intact. Overall in very good condition. 8.5 x 11 inches (22 x 28 cm). A rare item from a pivotal moment in American pop music history. Read More...